“It is the policy of large manufacturers and multinationals not to award contracts to subcontractors whose turnover is below a certain level, so we have been missing out on some of the bigger turned parts contracts, even though we would be perfectly capable of fulfilling them,” says Carol Naismith.

“So we decided to increase our capacity to expand the business and raise our turnover. It also puts us in a stronger position to handle overflow work from larger subcontractors that may be struggling to fulfill large contracts, or that may not have sliding-head mill-turning capacity.”

BGT has an additional string to its bow in that it has only replaced half of its cam auto’s. So it still has eight on which to produced relatively simple components very cost-effectively, reducing the workload on the Stars so that they can carry out the more complex, close-tolerance work.

Customers are spread across many engineering sectors. Stainless steel (303, 304, 316, 321) accounts for two-thirds of throughput, while aluminium (HE30, FC1), steel and brass are also turned. The Aldershot facility runs 24 hours a day, producing batches ranging between 100- and 50,000-off.

Tolerances down to 10 microns total are routinely held. Few second operations are needed owing to the twin-opposed-spindle configuration and extensive driven tool capabilities of the Star lathes, and a fixed-head lathe, all of which are able to perform in-cycle cross and reverse end machining.

BGT Automatics 01252 318111